Pilot whales spotted in shallow SW Florida waters

Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service say 26 emaciated whales in a shallow area off Naples.

The city's harbor master tells the Naples Daily News (http://bit.ly/1dU2S8k ) that the whales have gathered around the Gulf of Mexico's entrance to Gordon Pass. Roger Jacobsen says the whales were spotted around noon Sunday. He also says a few of the whales have beached themselves.

In early December, more than 50 pilot whales stranded in Everglades National Park. Seven died and four were euthanized before the rest apparently swam back into deeper waters.

The short-finned pilot whale is one of the most common species involved in mass strandings.